Cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae

ABSTRACT

A cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae includes a pillow body filled with stuffing materials, the pillow body having a neck supporting section which is formed at a front center portion of the pillow body, a concaved section which is formed behind the neck supporting section, and a pair of auxiliary supporting sections which are respectively formed at both sides of the neck supporting section and each of which is defined with an ear accommodating opening. The neck supporting section is formed to have a height which enables the cervical vertebrae to preserve their normal C-shaped lodortic curvature when the neck supporting section supports the neck of a user while the user lies down. Each auxiliary supporting section is formed to have a front height and a rear height which are greater than the height of the neck supporting section so that the cervical vertebrae and thoracic vertebrae are held parallel to a bed when the user lies on his or her side. The front height is slightly greater than the rear height so that the neck and the head can be adequately supported by the auxiliary supporting section. By separately regulating amounts of first and second stuffing materials, heights of the neck supporting section and auxiliary supporting sections can be freely adjusted to be suited to an individual size of the user.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

[0001] This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U. S. C. §119 from my applications for NECK PILLOW FOR PROTECTION OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Oct. 27, 2000 and there duly assigned Serial No. 2000-30105, for A NECK PILLOW FOR PROTECTION OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Feb. 7, 2001 and there duly assigned Serial No. 2001-2953, and for A NECK PILLOW FOR PROTECTION OF THE CERVICAL VERTEBRAE earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Jun. 11, 2001 and there duly assigned Serial No. 2001-17290.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae, which is used for supporting the neck while a person lies down to have a sleep or take a rest, so that the cervical vertebrae of the neck can maintain a normal lodortic curvature and muscle of a nuchal region is relaxed and prevented from tensing.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Most modern people such as office workers who use computers throughout almost all office hours, students who study late at night, housewives who manage household duties, and so on, tend to lean their heads forward throughout their everyday lives. In that sense, they have poor postures. Due to this, as muscle of a nuchal region and muscle of the shoulder are tensed, the neck and the shoulder can experience pain, a tension headache can be induced, and a person can often feel fatigued. If the tensed muscle of the neck and the shoulder is not relaxed in a proper time, because the tensed muscle exerts pressure on blood vessels running to the brain, smooth blood circulation to the brain is impeded. As a consequence, one's mind may not be lucid, loss of concentration may be induced, and the person may be enervated.

[0006] If fatigue is built up, while the muscle of the neck and the shoulder can be relaxed by virtue of physical measures such as finger-pressure therapy, massage, etc., it is the norm to have a sleep or take a rest while lying down in a comfortable sleeping posture. In this regard, because most of the conventional pillows which are used upon sleeping or taking a rest while lying down, are configured in a manner such that they support the head rather than the neck, when they are used in a state where a user lies on his or her back, cervical vertebrae of the neck which connects to the head, cannot preserve a normal C-shaped lodortic curvature, and, instead, as the neck is flexed forward, the cervical vertebrae are substantially flexed forward. By this, muscle of a nuchal region cannot be adequately relaxed, and, as a disk is excessively pressed at a place where the cervical vertebrae are most severely flexed forward, an intervertebral disk hernia is caused in the cervical vertebrae. Also, as force is continuously applied to the nuchal region while using the pillow, muscle of the nuchal region still remains tensed when the user gets up, and the neck grows stiff. In the case that the pillows are used in a state where a user lies on his or her side, the ear of the user is compressed. Further, since thoracic vertebrae are positioned higher than the cervical vertebrae, the cervical vertebrae and the thoracic vertebrae are not held parallel to each other, whereby the cervical vertebrae cannot but become laterally bent.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae, which allows the cervical vertebrae of the neck to preserve their normal C-shaped lodortic curvature upon having a sleep or taking a rest and muscle of a nuchal region of the neck to be relaxed under a comfortable posture, and which prevents an intervertebral disk hernia from being caused in the cervical vertebrae.

[0008] It is another object of the present invention to provide a cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae, which prevents the ear of a user from being compressed upon having a sleep or taking a rest in a state where the user lies on his or her side, and enables the cervical vertebrae to be held parallel to thoracic vertebrae, thereby keeping the cervical vertebrae from being flexed forward.

[0009] In order to achieve the above objects, according to the present invention, there is provided a cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae, including a pillow body filled with stuffing materials, the pillow body having a neck supporting section which is formed at a front center portion of the pillow body, a concaved section which is formed behind the neck supporting section, and a pair of auxiliary supporting sections which are respectively formed at both sides of the neck supporting section and each of which is defined with an ear accommodating opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] A more complete appreciation of the invention, and many of the attendant advantages thereof, will be readily apparent as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols indicate the same or similar components, wherein:

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pillow body in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;

[0012]FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

[0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 4 is a front view illustrating the pillow body of FIG. 1;

[0015]FIG. 5 is a plan view illustrating a state where the pillow body of FIG. 1 is used while a user lies on his or her back;

[0016]FIG. 6 is a schematic side view illustrating a state where the pillow body of FIG. 1 is used while a user lies on his or her side;

[0017]FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a pillow body in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

[0018]FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the pillow body of FIG. 7;

[0019]FIG. 9 is a front view illustrating the pillow body of FIG. 7;

[0020]FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating cushion packs in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and

[0021]FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a head supporting section in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0022] Turning now to the drawings, referring to FIGS. 1 through 11, there are illustrated first through fourth embodiments of the present invention. A cervical pillow 1 for protection of cervical vertebrae according to the present invention includes a pillow body 100. The pillow body 100 is filled with stuffing materials 12 and 22 such as a synthetic resin tube, cotton, etc. The pillow body 100 has a neck supporting section 10 which is formed at a front center portion of the pillow body 100, a concaved section P which is formed behind the neck supporting section 10, and a pair of auxiliary supporting sections 20 which are respectively formed at both sides of the neck supporting section 10. Each auxiliary supporting section 20 is defined with ear accommodating openings 30 at its center portion, respectively.

[0023] In the embodiments of the present invention, a plurality of ventilating holes 100 a are defined on an outer surface of the pillow body 100 in a manner such that the pillow body 100 can be satisfactorily ventilated. In the present invention, the neck supporting section 10 is formed to have a height h2 which enables the cervical vertebrae to preserve their normal C-shaped lodortic curvature when the neck supporting section 10 supports the neck of a user while the user lies down. Each auxiliary supporting section 20 is formed to have a front height h1 and a rear height h3 which are greater than the height h2 of the neck supporting section 10 so that the cervical vertebrae and thoracic vertebrae are held parallel to a bed when the user lies on his or her side. At this time, the front height h1 is slightly greater than the rear height h3 so that the neck and the head of the user can be adequately supported by the auxiliary supporting section 20.

[0024] In the first embodiment of the present invention which is shown in FIGS. 1 through 6, the neck supporting section 10 and the pair of auxiliary supporting sections 20 of the pillow body 100 are communicated with each other. In this connection, only one zipper 11 is installed on a front surface of the neck supporting section 10 so that respective inner spaces of the pillow body 100 can be filled with the stuffing materials 12 and 22. In the second embodiment of the present invention which is shown in FIGS. 7 through 9, a pair of partitioning members 40 are respectively arranged at boundary regions between the neck supporting section 10 and the auxiliary supporting sections 20 of the pillow body 100 in a manner such that a first stuffing material 12 for the neck supporting section 10 and second stuffing materials 22 for the auxiliary supporting sections 20 are prevented from being mixed with each other. A first zipper 11 and a pair of second zippers 21 are respectively installed on the neck supporting section 10 and the auxiliary supporting sections 20 in a manner such that, by separately regulating amounts of the first and second stuffing materials 12 and 22, heights of the neck supporting section 10 and auxiliary supporting sections 20 can be freely adjusted to be suited to an individual size of the user.

[0025] Of course, it is to be noted that the pillow bodies 100 of the first and second embodiments can be enveloped with pillow covers having outlines which correspond to configurations of the pillow bodies 100, respectively.

[0026] On the other hand, referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, there are respectively illustrated the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention. When the neck supporting section 10 is used to support the neck of the user in a state where any supporting means is not connected to the concaved section P of the pillow body 100 as in the first and second embodiments, the head of the user is brought into direct contact with the bed and, in this sense, a user who is accustomed to the conventional pillow, cannot be easily adapted to the use of the cervical pillow. In consideration of this fact, in the third and fourth embodiments of the present invention, a head supporting section 210 is provided to a concaved section P of a pillow cover 200. In other words, in the third embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the head supporting section 210 which has a bag-shaped outline, is integrally formed with the concaved section P of the pillow cover 200. In the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 11, one zipper half 201 is installed on a rear surface of a neck supporting section 10 of the pillow cover 200, and the other zipper half 211 is installed on a front surface of the head supporting section 210 which is filled with a third stuffing material, so that the other zipper half 21 1 can be detachably coupled with the one zipper half 201.

[0027] In the third embodiment, a zipper 211 is installed on a rear surface of the head supporting section 210. In this third embodiment of the present invention, as can be readily seen from FIG. 10, at least one cushion pack 220 can be inserted into the head supporting section 210 or a predetermined amount of stuffing material can be directly inserted thereinto. In the case where the cushion pack 220 is used, a zipper 221 is installed on a rear surface of the cushion pack 220 so that a preset amount of stuffing material can be filled into the cushion pack 220.

[0028] In the cervical pillow 1 for protection of cervical vertebrae according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, as shown in FIG. 5, if the user lies on his or her back so that a nuchal region of the neck is supported by the neck supporting section 10 and the head which is positioned in the concaved section P is brought into contact with the bed, as the cervical vertebrae of the neck can preserve their normal C-shaped lodortic curvature, the cervical vertebrae are kept from being flexed forward, and at the same time, muscle of the nuchal region can be relaxed in a comfortable posture.

[0029] Also, as shown in FIG. 6, if the user lies on his or her side so that the ear of the user is accommodated into one of the ear accommodating openings 30 and the head is supported by one of the pair of auxiliary supporting sections 20, it is possible to prevent the ear from being compressed while sleeping or taking a rest. At this time, due to the fact that the cervical vertebrae and the thoracic vertebrae are held parallel to each other, the cervical vertebrae are prevented from being twisted leftward or rightward.

[0030] Further, in the present invention, by the fact that the pair of partitioning members 40 are respectively arranged at the boundary regions between the neck supporting section 10 and the auxiliary supporting sections 20 of the pillow body 100 and zippers 11 and 21 are separately installed on the front surfaces of the neck supporting section 10 and the auxiliary supporting sections 20, it is possible to keep the first and second stuffing materials 12 and 22 from being moved from place to place inside the pillow body 100 due to vertical load unevenly applied to the cervical pillow, and the heights of the neck supporting section 10 and the auxiliary supporting sections 20 can be constantly maintained. In addition, by selectively increasing or decreasing amounts of the first and second stuffing materials 12 and 22, heights of the neck supporting section 10 and the auxiliary supporting sections 20 can be freely adjusted in such a way as to be suited to an individual size of the user.

[0031] In the present invention, in the case that the head supporting section 210 is provided to the concaved section P of the pillow cover 200, while the cervical vertebrae is flexed forward to some extent in comparison with the case that no head supporting section is provided, shock which is applied to the head when the head is brought into contact with the bed, can be relieved. Also, in this case, since the head of the user is slightly raised, a user's reluctancy to the initial use of the present cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae can be significantly mitigated. Consequently,by progressively decreasing a height of the head supporting section 210, as the user is gradually adapted to the use of the present cervical pillow, it is possible to have a sleep or take a rest even in a state where the head supporting section 210 is completely removed from the cervical pillow.

[0032] As a result, the cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae according to the present invention provides advantages in that the cervical pillow supports the neck and the head is brought into contact with a bed upon having a sleep or taking a rest in a state where a user lies on his or her back, whereby the cervical vertebrae can preserve their normal C-shaped lodortic curvature. That is to say, since muscle of a nuchal region can be relaxed in the course of having a sleep or taking a rest, the muscle of the nuchal region is prevented from being tensed when a user gets up. Therefore, it is possible to prevent poor postures from being caused due to the fact that most modern people tend to lean their heads forward throughout their everyday lives. Because the muscle of the nuchal region and muscle of the shoulder are prevented from being tensed, the neck and the shoulder do not experience pain, a tension headache is not induced, and the user is prevented from often feeling fatigued. Moreover, a phenomenon is avoided that the tensed muscle exerts pressure on blood vessels running to the brain and thereby smooth blood circulation to the brain is impeded. Further, a phenomenon is avoided that one's mind is not lucid, loss of concentration is induced, and the person is enervated. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent an intervertebral disk hernia from being caused in the cervical vertebrae due to the fact that the neck is flexed forward and the cervical vertebrae are flexed forward. Also, by maximally opening of the airway of the trachea, it is possible to prevent the user from snoring while having a sleep.

[0033] In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to keep stuffing materials from being moved from place to place due to vertical load unevenly applied to the cervical pillow. Also, by separately regulating amounts of the stuffing materials, heights of a neck supporting section and auxiliary supporting sections can be freely adjusted in such a way as to be suited to an individual size of the user. Besides, a user of the conventional pillow who is not accustomed to the use of a cervical pillow, can be gradually adapted to the use of the cervical pillow by the presence of a head supporting section.

[0034] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae, comprising: a pillow body filled with stuffing materials, the pillow body including a neck supporting section formed at a front center portion of the pillow body; a concaved section formed behind the neck supporting section; and a pair of auxiliary supporting sections being respectively formed at both sides of the neck supporting section and each of the pair of auxiliary supporting sections being defined with an ear accommodating opening.
 2. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of the neck supporting section being formed to have a height enabling the cervical vertebrae to preserve a C-shaped lodortic curvature when the neck supporting section supports the neck of a user while the user lies down, each auxiliary supporting section being formed to have a front height and a rear height being greater than the height of the neck supporting section accommodating the cervical vertebrae and thoracic vertebrae being held parallel to a bed when the user lies on a side, and the front height being slightly greater than the rear height accommodating the neck and the head being supported by the auxiliary supporting section.
 3. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of a pair of partitioning members being respectively arranged at boundary regions between the neck supporting section and the auxiliary supporting sections of the pillow body in a manner accommodating a first stuffing material for the neck supporting section and second stuffing materials for the auxiliary supporting sections prevented from being mixed with each other, and a first zipper and second zippers being respectively installed on the neck supporting section and the auxiliary supporting sections accommodating by separately regulating amounts of the first and second stuffing materials, heights of the neck supporting section and auxiliary supporting sections to be adjustable according to an individual size of the user.
 4. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 1, further comprising a head supporting section being integrally formed with a concaved section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body.
 5. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 3, further comprising a head supporting section being integrally formed with a concaved section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body.
 6. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 1, further comprising one zipper half being installed on a rear surface of a neck supporting section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body, and the other zipper half being installed on a front surface of a head supporting section filled with a third stuffing material, accommodating the other zipper half to be detachably coupled with the one zipper half.
 7. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 3, further comprising one zipper half being installed on a rear surface of a neck supporting section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body, and the other zipper half being installed on a front surface of a head supporting section filled with a third stuffing material, accommodating the other zipper half to be detachably coupled with the one zipper half.
 8. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprising of a head supporting section being integrally formed with a concaved section of a pillow cover corresponding to the concaved section of the cervical pillow.
 9. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 3, further comprising of a head supporting section being attached with the concave section and including a third stuffing material.
 10. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 9, further comprised of progressively decreasing a height of the head supporting section.
 11. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 8, further comprised of progressively decreasing a height of the head supporting section.
 12. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of the pillow body including a plurality of ventilating holes.
 13. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of separate stuffing materials within the pillow body and the auxiliary support sections.
 14. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 1, further comprised of the front height of the auxiliary support sections being greater than the rear height of the auxiliary support sections.
 15. A cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae, comprising: a pillow body including a neck supporting section formed at a front center portion of the pillow body; a concaved section formed behind the neck supporting section; and a pair of auxiliary supporting sections being respectively formed at both sides of the neck supporting section and each of the pair of auxiliary supporting sections being defined with an ear accommodating opening.
 16. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 15, further comprised of the neck supporting section being formed to have a height enabling the cervical vertebrae to preserve a C-shaped lodortic curvature when the neck supporting section supports the neck of a user while the user lies down.
 17. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 15, further comprised of each auxiliary supporting section being formed to have a front height and a rear height being greater than the height of the neck supporting section accommodating the cervical vertebrae and thoracic vertebrae being held parallel to a bed when the user lies on a side, and the front height being slightly greater than the rear height accommodating the neck and the head being supported by the auxiliary supporting section.
 18. The cervical pillow as claimed in claim 17, further comprised of a pair of partitioning members being respectively arranged at boundary regions between the neck supporting section and the auxiliary supporting sections of the pillow body in a manner accommodating a first stuffing material for the neck supporting section and second stuffing materials for the auxiliary supporting sections prevented from being mixed with each other, and a first zipper and second zippers being respectively installed on the neck supporting section and the auxiliary supporting sections accommodating by separately regulating amounts of the first and second stuffing materials, heights of the neck supporting section and auxiliary supporting sections to be adjustable according to an individual size of the user.
 19. The cervical pillow as claimed in claims 18, further comprising a head supporting section being integrally formed with a concaved section of a pillow cover enveloping the pillow body.
 20. A method ofmaking a cervical pillow for protection of cervical vertebrae, comprising the steps of: filling a pillow body with stuffing materials, the pillow body formed with a neck supporting section at a front center portion of the pillow body; forming a concaved section behind the neck supporting section; forming a pair of auxiliary supporting sections respectively on both sides of the neck supporting section; and forming on each of the pair of auxiliary supporting sections an ear accommodating opening. 